# [#]Aloha Friend,
This week Governor Josh Green signed six critical housing bills into law which will increase the affordable housing inventory in Hawaii and update and improve rental laws across the state — together marking the most significant housing regulatory and zoning reform in over 40 years.
[link removed] [[link removed]]In a signing ceremony at the Capitol, Governor Green emphasized the importance of these measures in addressing the state’s housing crisis.
“Housing has been and continues to be a top priority for my administration,” Governor Green said, “and today I signed several bills that are aimed at tackling the severe housing shortage in our state.”
The governor also thanked the legislators and community members involved in shaping the reforms.
“These bills represent the efforts of not only policymakers, departments, agencies, and stakeholders,” Governor Green said, “but very importantly, the input of the community and so many who came out to testify on housing legislation.”
The housing bills Governor Green signed this week include:
*
Senate
Bill
3202,
which
requires
counties
to
adopt
or
amend
ordinances
by
December
31,
2026
to
allow
for
at
least
two
accessory
dwelling
units
(ADUs)
on
all
residentially
zoned
lots,
and
also
prohibits
private
covenants
from
including
certain
restrictions,
supporting
the
efficient
use
of
limited
residential
lands
and
making
housing
more
attainable
for
residents.
*
*
House
Bill
1760,
which
enables
the
Hawaii
Housing
Finance
and
Development
Corporation
and
counties
to
implement
a
bond
volume
cap
recycling
program,
utilizing
prior
years’
tax-exempt
private
activity
bond
volume
while
preserving
the
current
volume
cap
to
support
affordable
housing
development.
*
*
House
Bill
1925,
which
establishes
and
funds
the
Hawaii
State
Planning
Act
Phase
II
Task
Force,
continuing
the
work
of
the
previous
task
force
to
guide
long-range
state
development
and
housing
policy
solutions.
*
*
House
Bill
2090,
which
directs
counties
to
allow
adaptive
reuse
of
existing
commercial
buildings
through
their
ordinances,
increasing
housing
inventory
by
repurposing
underutilized
commercial
spaces
and
office
buildings.
*
*
Senate
Bill
2066,
which
provides
an
alternative
pathway
for
housing
projects
to
seek
exemptions
from
certain
state
laws
and
rules,
expediting
the
regulatory
process
to
increase
affordable
housing
units.
*
*
Senate
Bill
2133,
which
authorizes
the
Hawaii
Housing
Finance
and
Development
Corporation
to
issue
bonds
for
housing
project
infrastructure,
financing
the
development
of
regional
state
infrastructure
projects,
particularly
in
transit-oriented
development
areas.
“These bills reflect the ongoing work to expand housing options for the people of Hawaii,” said Governor Green. “Mahalo to our residents and communities that continue to share their perspectives, take part in the legislative process, and contribute to ongoing policy discussions to come up with innovative and sound solutions to address our dire housing shortage.”
State and federal leaders joined the governor at the signing ceremony, praising the new laws and saying they will help create thousands of affordable new homes for Hawaii residents.
We will continue to keep you updated in the coming weeks and months as Josh takes further actions to address the affordable housing shortage.
If you support Josh’s efforts to take on our biggest challenges like housing, homelessness, and affordability, please consider chipping in a donation today. [[link removed]]
Thank you for supporting Josh and for being an important part of Team Green.
Mahalo,
Team Green
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